Sight



Dec. 5, 1944. P, F. BERRY 2,364,055

SIGHT Filed Jan. 8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

Paar/"e F Eerrl MLW Jrrorneu P. F. BERRY Dec. 5, 1944.

SIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flrrorneq Filed Jan. 8, 1944 by l Patented Dec. 5, 1944 SIGHT Pierre F. Berry, United States Army, New York, N. Y.

Application January 8, 1944, Serial No. 517,520

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 1-0 Claims.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmenta1 purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to ordnance sights, and more particularly to sighting apparatus for use in sighting mortars.

Certain operational groups of th armed forces operate mainly in enemy territory. These groups operate independently or in collaboration with local resistance groups, and in operations of this character it is mandatory to reduce th weight and bulk of equipment to an absolute minimum. The use of mortars in these operations is necessary to provide the requisite fire-power, but mortars provided with the conventional equipment are too heavy and bulky. In order to reduce its size and weight, each mortar is stripped of its base plate, bipod and sight, thus retaining only the barrel assembly. To fire a mortar without this conventional equipment, the operator sits on the ground or supporting surface and holds the barrel or tube of the mortar with one hand, the hand being positioned near the muzzle of the barrel, and the base rests on the ground or supporting surface between his legs. The shell is fired by the operator dropping it into the muzzle of the barrel with the other hand, so that the shell gravitates toward the base or breech of the mortar Where the percussion cap is impinged by the firing pin.

Without a sight, erratic results are obtained, owing to the dilficulty in determining the firing elevation and traverse of the mortar. Firing under these conditions requires a longer period of time to strike the objective or target and the expenditure of a relatively great amount of ammunition, with the result that the original purpose of saving weight and bulk is defeated by the greater amount of ammunition required.

,It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a relatively light and simple sight for application to a mortar barrel to enable the operator to readily determine the positional relation of the barrel to the target.

Another object of this invention is to provide a relatively light but simple sight for application to a mortar barrel, the sight components being foldable to comp-act nested position with respect to the mortar barrel, when not in use, and readily unfoidable to sighting position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple and light sight for application to a mortar barrel, the sight having a suspending element supported by the mortar barrel, an indicating element suspended for free movement from a point along the suspended element to permit the lower terminal of the indicating element to gravitate to positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel, and a scale calibrated to indicate, by its relation to an element ofthe sight, the angle of elevation of the mortar barrel when the lower terminal of the indicating element is in predetermined positional relation to the mortar barrel.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a relatively light simple sighting apparatus for application to a mortar barrel, the sight including a suspended element supported by the mortar barrel, an indicating element suspended for free movement from a :point along the suspending element to permit the lower terminal of the indicating element to gravitate to positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel, and a scale calibrated to indicate, by its relation to an element of the sight, the angle of elevation of the mortar barrel when the lower terminal of the indicating element is in predetermined positional relation to the mortar barrel, and means for determining the line of sight from the mortar to the objective.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a mortar sight of generally improved. construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as con-- venient, practical, serviceable and eficient in its use.

V With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of :parts and in details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantage of the invention.

For a complete disclosure ofthe invention, a detail description thereof will now be given in connection with the drawings forming a part of' the specification, wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side elevation depicting the mortar and improved sight in a firing position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view depicting the mortar and improved sight in a different firing position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation depicting the improved sight in its nested position, portions of the mortar barrel being broken away.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view looking inthe dicharacters, l indicates the barrel of a mortar which is provided with the conventional base cap II and projection I2. In order to best serve its intended purpose, the mortar barrel I0 is stripped of its conventional base plate, bipod and conven-' tional sight. When stripped mortar barrels are aimed by reliance on the operators sense of direction, the results obtained are erratic. Time and ammunication are lost in striking the target or objective, and if a hit'is made there is no assurance that subsequent firing will reach the objective, owing to the lack of provisions for de-' termining the firing position of the mortar barrel relative to the target.

To overcome this unsatisfactory condition, applicant provides a sighting apparatus which includes a substantially circular strap l3, having securing ears l5 extending radially therefrom, and these ears are provided with aligned apertures It for the reception of a binding'screw IT. The head |8 of the screw engages the outer face of one of the ears l5, and a binding nut engages the outer face of the opposed ear, so

that rotation of the nut in binding direction will securelybind the strap |3 to the eripheral surface of the mortar barrel Ill. The outer terminal of the screw H is peened, as indicated at 2|, to prevent the binding nut 20 from becoming detached from the screw I1, thus insuring against the loss of the binding components,

A connector block 22 is provided, and this block has an arcuate inner surface 23 which is brazed, welded or otherwise secured to the strap l3. The arcuate surface 23 is offset to provide an arcuate shoulder 25 which engages an edge of the strap tothereby locate the block in predetermined axial relation to the strap. A rib or key 26 extends inwardly or radially from the central portion of the arcuate surface 23 of the block 22, and this rib is received in an axially-extending index groove or line 21, which is formed in the peripheral surface of the mortar barrel I0. By this arrangement, the connector block 22 is secured to the mortar barrel ID with its axially-extending central portion disposed in parallelism with the axis of the mortar barrel.

The connector block 22 is bifurcated to Provide a rectangular recess 28 which is formed between opposed furcations or flanges 29 for the operable reception of a rectangular swivel-head 3U. The swivel-head 3|] 'is pivotally secured to the furcations 29 of theconnectorblock 22 by a. pivot pin 3| which extends transversely through the swivel-head 30 and connector block flanges 29 in tangential relation to the mortar barrel and perpendicularly disposed with respect to its axis. The swivel-head 30 is provided with a cylindrical extension 33 having a smooth axial bore 35 ment 36. A tapered pin 31 extends through the swivel-head 30 and the inner terminal of the runner rod 36 to secure the runner rod to the swivel head. A portion of the rod is flattened to provide a flat surface 40 which extends longitudinally throughout the greater portion of the runner rod 36, and this flattened portion has a, plurality of transversely extending notches 4| formed therein. These notches are uniformly spaced a predetermined distance apart, and they are located and calibrated to indicate in degrees the angle of elevation of the mortar barrel, as will be hereinafter explained. There are twenty-one notches and they are suitably numbered to indicate in degrees space intervals ranging from 60 to 80.

A tubular runner 42 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement along the runner rod 35, and this runuer has opposed ears 43 extending tangentially therefrom. A detent 45 is pivotally secured to the ears 42 by a pivot member 46, and

a manipulating finger 41 is formed at one terminal of the detent 45 while a locking finger 48 is formed at its opposed terminal. This finger extends inwardly so that its inner terminal engages a selected notch 4| thereby locking the runner 42 in a predetermined position along the rod 36. A spring 50 is interposed between the detent 45 and adjacent surface of the runner 42, and it is positioned and arranged to normally force the locking finger 42 into engagement with a selected notch 4|. The rod 35 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 5| for the sliding'reception of a pin 52 which is secured to the run-.

ner 42 and projects int the groove 5| to hold the runner 42 against rotational movement with respect to the runner rod'36. The groove 5| is closed at its opposite terminals, thereby preventing the runner 42 from moving from engagement with the runner rod 36.

The pivot member 45 preferably extends around the outer face of the detent 45 to provide a securing ring or loop 53 to which the inner terminal of a chain or other flexible element 55 is secured. The outer terminal of the chain 55 is provided with an index member 56 which has its outer terminal reduced to provide an index point 51 for cooperable association with the index line 21 formed on the mortar barrel, as will be fully ex plained hereinafter.

A clamp 58 is secured to the outer terminal of the runner rod 36, and this clamp is provided with opposed resilient finger 60 for the reception of the outer terminal of the chain 55, in order to hold the chain when not in use.

The peripheral surface of the cylindrical extension 33 is I providd with threads 6| which threadedly engage a threaded bore 62 formed in a locking nut 63. The outer or peripheral surface of the locking nut 63 is ribbed or knurled, asindicated at 65, in order that the nut may be conveniently manipulated to rotate it, thereby causing the nut to move longitudinally along the threaded peripheral surface of the extension 33. The outer terminal of the cylindrical extension 33 is peened to provide a retaining rib 66 to prevent the locking nut from disengaging the cylindrical extension. The furcations 2| of the con to the mortar barrel H). In this position, the outer terminal of the chain 55 is held between the resilient retaining fingers 6b of the spring clip, thereb holding the chain against free or swinging movement.

When in use in the field of operations, the locking nut 63 is released and then the swivel-head 39 and runner rod 38 are swung about their pivot pin 3| through an arc of 135. In this position the locking nut 63 is tightened with its inner-face in engagement with the angularly disposed surfaces 68 of the connector block, thereby locking the runner rod 36 in rigid relation to the mortar barrel with the axis of the rod disposed at an angle of 45 relative to the axis of the mortar barrel. The'chain is now released so that its weighted index 56 gravitates to dispose the chain in vertical position.- The operator, While prefer ably in sitting position, grasps the muzzle of the mortar barrel in one hand and slides the runner 42 along the runner rod 36 to the selected notch 4 I and when the selected notch has been reached, the manipulating finger 41 is released thereby permitting the locking fin er 48 to engage the notch and lock the runner to the runner rod 36. The scale on the flat surface of the runner rod 36 indicates in degrees the notch selected.

Now the elevation of the mortar barrel is adjusted so that the index point 51 aligns with and lightly touches the index line 27 formed on the mortar barrel. If the selected notch indicates 70, then the operator is assured that the angle of elevation of the mortar barrel is disposed 70 above the horizontal.

In order to adjust the mortar barrel in lateral alignment with the objective or target, the upper or outer terminal of the runner rod 36 is aligned with the upper terminal of the index groove or line 21 of the mortar barrel and the objective or target. When the runner rod 36 and the index line 27 on the mortar barrel are in vertical alignment, and the upper terminal of the rod 36, the upper terminal of the index line 27, and the target are aligned in'the line of sight, then an accurate traverse has been determined and the mortar is sighted for accurate firing.

Now the mortar shell is aligned, in conformity with the usual practice, in the muzzle of the mortar barrel, and then permitted to gravitate to the base of the mortar where the percussion cap of the shell impinges the firing pin in the mortar barrel, thus firing the mortar While disposed in predetermined elevation indicated in degrees with the traverse accurately determined.

It has been found from practice that angles of elevation ranging from 60 to 80 have proven eflicient and satisfactory, but it is to be understood, of course, that any preferred angle of elevation can be determined and indicated by calibrating the notches on the runner rod to conform to the angle desired.

Having thus disclosed the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is:

l. A mortar sight including a suspending element adapted to be supported by the mortar barrel, an indicating element suspended for free movement from a point along the suspending element and adapted to gravitate to a position of rest where the lower terminal of the indicating element is located at a pointin positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel, and a scale calibrated to indicate by its relation to an element of the sight the angle of elevation of the mortar barrel when the lower terminal of the indicating element is in predetermined positional relation to the mortar barrel.

2. A mortar sight including a suspending element adapted to be supported by the mortar barrel, an indicating element suspended for free movement from a point along the suspending element which is indicated by a calibrated scale, the indicating element adapted to gravitate to a position of rest Where its lower terminal is located at a point in positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel to indicate the angle of elevation of the mortar barrel, as predetermined by the location of the point of suspension of the indicating element along the suspending element.

3. In a mortar sight, the combination of a mortar barrel having an axially-extending index line on its peripheral surface, a, suspending element supported by the mortar barrel, an indicating element suspended for free movement from a point along the suspending element and adapted to gravitate to a position of rest where the lower terminal of the indicating element is located at a point in positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel, and a scale calibrated to indicate by its relation to an element of the sight the angle of elevation of the mortar barrel when the lower terminal of the indicating element is in predetermined positional relation to the mortar barrel, the traverse being determined by locating the index line and suspending element in a vertical plane and locating the upper terminal of the index line and the upper terminal of the suspending element and the target in the line of sight.

. barrel to indicate the angle of elevation of the mortar barrel as predetermined by the location of the point of suspension of the indicating element along the suspending element, the traverse being determined by locating the index line and suspending element in a vertical plane and locating the upper terminal-of the index line and the upper terminal of the suspending element and the target in the line of sight.

5. A mortar sight including a runner rod supported by the mortar barrel, a runner slidable along the runner rod, means for securing the runner at a selected location along the runner rod, an indicating element suspended for'free movement from the runner and adapted to gravitate to a position of rest where its lower terminal is located at a point in positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel when the barrel is disposed at the desired angle of elevation.

' 6. A mortar sight including a runner rod supported by the mortar barrel, a runner slidable along the runner rod, means for securing the runner at a selected location along the runner rod, means for indicating in degrees the location at which the runner is secured along the runner rod, an indicating element suspended for free movement from the runner and adapted to gravitate to a position of rest where its lower terminal is located at a point in positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel when the barrel is disposed at the angle of elevation indicated by the location of the runner alongthe 'runner rod.

7. In a mortar sight, the combination of a mortar barrel having an. axially-extended index line on its peripheral surface, a runnerrod supported by the mortar barrel, a runner slidable along the runner rod, means for securing the runner at a selected location along the runner rod, means'for indicating in degrees the location at which the runner is secured along the runner rod, an indicating element suspended for free movement from the runner and adapted to gravitate to a position of rest Where its lower terminal is located at a point in positional relation with respect to the index line on the mortar barrel when the barrel is disposed at the angle of elevation indicated by the location of the runner along the runner rod.

8. A mortar sight including a runner rod pivotally supported with respect to the mortar barrel, means for securing the runner rod in different angular positions with respect to the mortar barrel, a'runner slidably supported on the runner rod, means for securing the runner at a selected location along the runner rod, and an indicating element supported by the runner and adapted to be disposed in positional relation wit different" angular positions with respect to the; mortar barrel, a runner slidably supported on the runner rod, means for securing the runner at a selected location along the'runner rod, and an indicating element supported by the runner and adapted to be disposed in positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel.

10. A mortar sight including a strap adapted to be rigidly secured to the mortar barrel, a connector member secured to the strap, a runner rod pivotally supported with respect to the conhector members, means for securing the runner rod in different angular, positions .with respect to the mortar barrel, a runner slidably supported on the runner rod, and an indicating element supported bythe runner and adapted to be disposed in positional relation with respect to the mortar barrel.

PIERRE F. BERRY. 

